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A good electric shaver is one of those quiet upgrades you feel every single morning, and when people ask us what to buy, the answer is almost always Panasonic. While the rotary brands chase a closer circle, Panasonic has spent decades perfecting the foil shaver: flat Japanese-steel blades driven by a fast linear motor that lifts and cuts in one clean pass, then gets out of the way before your skin has a chance to complain.
The only real hurdle is the range itself. It runs deep, and the model codes read like a parts catalogue. So we have done the untangling. Below are the five Panasonic shavers actually worth your money, from a $159 travel model to a $989 six-blade flagship, with a straight answer on who each one suits.
Short on time? Buy the Panasonic ES-LV67. It uses the same quick linear motor as the flagships and a five-blade head that flexes across your jaw, for half the price of the top model. The only reason to spend up is if a self-cleaning dock or dedicated stubble blades would genuinely change your mornings.
At a Glance: The Best Panasonic Shavers
- Best Overall: Panasonic ES-LV67
- Best Premium: Panasonic ES-L690U
- Best Self-Cleaning: Panasonic ES-LS9A
- Best for Travel: Panasonic ES-CM3A
- Best Budget: Panasonic ES-CM2B
1. Panasonic Multi-Flex 5-Blade Shaver (ES-LV67)
The ES-LV67 is Panasonic’s best-selling mainstream shaver and the value sweet spot of the range. Five arched, nano-polished blades sit on a Multi-flex 16D head that pivots to follow your face, driven by the same fast linear motor as the pricier models. You lose the auto-cleaning station, but for a shaver rated 4.8 out of 5 across hundreds of reviews on Panasonic’s own site, that is an easy trade. Wet or dry, it is the one most guys should buy.
- Blades: 5 arched nano-polished blades, Multi-flex 16D head
- Motor: 14,000cpm linear, ~70,000 cross-cutting actions/min
- Features: Automatic beard sensor, pop-up trimmer, LED display
- Wet/dry: Yes, washable, ~50 min cordless on a 1-hour charge
- RRP: $499.95 (AUD)
2. Panasonic Series 1000 PRO 6-Blade Shaver (ES-L690U)
The ES-L690U is Panasonic’s no-compromise flagship. Six blades, including nano-polished 30-degree inner cutters, work with a Precision Navigation display and an Intelligent Beard Sensor+ that scans your stubble 223 times a second and boosts the motor where growth is thickest. A flexible 22D head follows every contour of your jaw, and it drops onto an auto cleaning-and-charging station when you are done. If you treat shaving as a ritual, the ES-L690U is the closest, most personalised result Panasonic makes.
- Blades: 6-blade PRO system, 30° nano-polished inner blades
- Motor: 14,000cpm linear, ~84,000 cross-cutting actions/min
- Beard sensor: Intelligent Beard Sensor+, 223 scans/sec, auto-boost
- Head: Flexible 22D contour-following, pop-up trimmer, wet/dry
- Charging: Auto clean & charge station, USB-C, ~50 min cordless
- RRP: $989 (AUD)
3. Panasonic 6-Blade Shaver with Cleaning Station (ES-LS9A)
The ES-LS9A gets you near-flagship closeness for a hundred dollars less. It shares the six-blade system and the same 14,000cpm linear motor as the top model, including two blades built for thick stubble, and still comes with the self-cleaning charging stand that handles maintenance for you. A three-minute quick charge covers a shave in a pinch. Pick the ES-LS9A for the premium experience without paying Panasonic’s very top price.
- Blades: 6 Japanese-steel blades, 2 dedicated thick-stubble blades
- Motor: 14,000cpm linear, ~84,000 cross-cutting actions/min
- Head: Flexible 22D head, beard sensor, pop-up trimmer, Smart Lock
- Charging: Auto clean & charge stand, 3-min quick charge, ~50 min run
- Wet/dry: Yes, fully washable, 20-LED status display
- RRP: $899 (AUD)
4. Panasonic Compact 3-Blade Travel Shaver (ES-CM3A)
The ES-CM3A proves a travel shaver does not have to be a cut-down toy. It packs three floating Japanese-steel blades, a real beard sensor and an IPX7 waterproof rating into a body barely bigger than your fist, and it charges over USB-C off the same cable as your phone. An hour on charge gives you 45 minutes of cordless run time, plenty for a trip. The ES-CM3A is the one to throw in a carry-on.
- Blades: 3 floating Japanese-steel blades, 30° nano-polished
- Motor: 13,000cpm linear, ~39,000 cross-cutting actions/min
- Size: Palm-sized, ~75 x 67 x 31mm, ~123g
- Waterproof: IPX7, wet/dry, washable
- Charging: USB-C, 1-hour charge for ~45 min cordless
- RRP: $299 (AUD)
5. Panasonic Ultra-Compact 2-Blade Shaver (ES-CM2B)
The ES-CM2B is Panasonic’s smallest and cheapest shaver, built for a bag or glovebox rather than a bathroom counter. Two Japanese stainless-steel blades will not out-cut the flagships, but IPX7 waterproofing and USB-C charging make it a genuinely useful backup or travel shaver at well under $200. A 5-minute top-up is enough for one shave, and a full charge lasts 45 minutes cordless. The ES-CM2B is the one to keep in your bag for emergencies.
- Blades: 2 Japanese stainless-steel blades
- Motor: ~17,000 cross-cutting actions/min
- Size: Ultra-compact, 93.4 x 64.1 x 28.6mm, 130g
- Waterproof: IPX7, wet/dry, washable
- Charging: USB-C, 45 min cordless on a full charge, 5-min quick charge for one shave
- RRP: $159 (AUD)
How to Choose a Panasonic Electric Shaver
Panasonic is a foil-and-linear-motor specialist, not a rotary-head maker. Every shaver in its Australian range uses flat Japanese-steel foil blades driven by a high-speed linear motor, which the brand positions against rotary rivals on cutting speed and closeness.
The differences up and down the range come down to three things. Motor speed, measured in cross-cutting actions per minute, runs from roughly 17,000 on the ultra-compact ES-CM2B to about 84,000 on the six-blade flagships. A beard sensor adjusts power in real time on the higher models. And an auto-cleaning charging station is reserved for the top tiers. If you have a heavy or coarse beard, the six-blade models handle it better; for average growth, the five-blade ES-LV67 gets you most of the way there.
Panasonic Electric Shaver FAQs
Foil. Every Panasonic shaver uses flat Japanese stainless-steel foil blades driven by a linear motor, rather than the spinning circular heads you find on rotary shavers. Panasonic’s pitch is a faster, closer cut than rotary rivals deliver.
Yes. All five shavers here are wet and dry and fully washable, so you can shave with foam or gel and rinse the head under the tap. The ES-CM3A and ES-CM2B are both rated IPX7 waterproof for full submersion.
The Multi-Flex ES-LV67. It uses the same fast linear motor as the flagship and a five-blade flexible head at a mid-range price, which is why it is Panasonic’s best-seller. Step up to the ES-LS9A or ES-L690U only for the self-cleaning station.
The six-blade flagships add dedicated thick-stubble blades and a faster cross-cutting action, so they handle heavy or coarse beards better and feel a touch closer. For average growth, the five-blade ES-LV67 gets you most of the way there for less.
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